5 Solar Myths

There’s a lot of wrong information out there on the Internet. We thought we’d take a moment to correct some of the incorrect myths floating out there on solar.

[closertothetruth]

Exactly our payback time was almost exactly 2 years for a 5kw system here in Au, and we have no bills anymore.

[ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Great video. Thinking outside the box. That is what I did with my backyard fence-line...removed 12 Renogy panels from atop the pergola and mounted them on the fence. Used grout (the high PSI concrete used for garage floors) filled stockade fence posts, Superstrut, spring nuts, and brown paint. (videos on my Channel). Anyway, set them for 54 deg (avg annual solar angle for this latitude), ran 125' PV cable, wired them series-series-parallel, and VIOLA! cranking power. That fence receives great sun all day. Recently, been seeing about 1, 000 watts out of the 1, 200 watt array. Not too shabby! Zero issues with the long PV feeder cable run...high MPPT volts. Thanks Amy...cool videos.

[Paul-pixr]

Can you use solar panels and or a solar charged battery bank to power things like a domestic oven. Does the voltage have to be stepped up to mains voltage via a transformer which decreases efficiency?

[sirroxalot]

This woman loves her job. She's cool.

[SkashTheKitsune]

told my dad about solar...
"oh, I don't need it, the rates are low and it's going to cost too much"
5 years later "I have solar installed on my home and I've saved almost the cost of the entire system in 2 years"
*does a silent fist pump*

[MrNigel]

Thank you, a very well laid out and informative set of video, s that will answer most of the questions people ask, we will be having a shorter payback time than expected on our system here in England and making approximately £100 per month, regards Doc Cox.

[HR-rtnh]

what about the hazardous waste disposal issue that is associated with manufacturing a solar panel... that is a HUGE issue that is not factored in the cost or environmental impact.

[EjitEnergy]

Hi,
My question is: when you install the panels, one facing east and the other face west, can the go on the same mppt controller? Knowing fully well that they are not having the same exposure to the sun at a particular point in time, though the panel are of the same wattage.

[jamest.]

I just saw a video about using a grid tie inverter with out a grid. I think what they was doing is using a small full sine inverter with a larger grid tie inverter. is this possible? like if I had a small off grid system 1500watts full sine. then add a 3 or 5 kW grid tie inverter . to an off grid home. will this work?

[inakiibarlucea]

Definitely the prhase of the next decade, Think outside the box! .. There are a lot of renewable myths everywhere, and many of the just for lack of knowledge.. Great video!

[picobyte]

Inverters can in many occasions be repaired, usually the capacitors fail in those.

[baconsledge]

I had been somewhat of a solar skeptic but the information presented here is great and I am seriously considering putting together a system.

[monckeywrench]

very well said ms amy, , thanks for this..

[catgolfer]

I am buying a Harbor Freight 100 watt system for my RV. It is portable. What are your thoughts about amorphous panels. From what I've seen, they work really great in overcast weather. David 💐

[nomadchad]

North facing roofs face the sun in the south! *Mind Blown* I wish I lived in the southern hemisphere my roof would be perfect if I lived there.

[skyerenard]

Seeing these is really making me interested in getting solar though I am still confused on how much I will need as it seems like what I use is going to need a lot of solar power. Though I really think solar would be great for at least running the power for Air Conditioning in summer at least

[KVUSMC-KUSMC]

Great Video Alt E Store Very True Great Information

[andrewd.harris]

I'm on limited income, but we had some extra cash and bought solar panels. It will save us around $20 per month. $20 a month that I don't have to pay for power is worth more than $20. That would buy a meal a day. That's a big savings compared to paying for the total amount of kwh's we use.

[ramonfco.morales]

Amy, thanks for your video, plus nice and pretty know how to express with precision the subject of photovoltaics. All information is true, return on investment, totally reliable and friendly systems environment and our pockets, and so on. It will be very interesting that on, you could expand on the issue of batteries for off-grid systems is exciting what comes with Tesla powerwall. regards

[siafulinux]

Average kwh used in America is around 900 kwh per month. At 500 kwh generated per month, most people would be short and would still have to pay the power company for the compensated energy unless they cut back usage. In that case they might as well stay with the power company in the first place and not have two bills.

You could increase the number of panels to get the 900 kwh but do you have the space for all those panels? Of course the cost goes up nearly double and your ROI time is increased. So I'm still not convinced it's worth it. Not a panel system anyway.